Dead Beale Air Force Base sergeant identified

The Beale Air Force Base Airman found dead Nov. 16 had been identified as Tech. Sgt. Ayaz Ali.

Sgt. Ali was assigned to Beale Air Force Base since June 2012, as part of the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

A search party from Nevada County Sheriff’s Department, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the California Highway Patrol had been looking for Ali since he went missing Tuesday evening. He was found in close proximity to his crashed vehicle off Highway 20 between Smartsville and Penn Valley at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday.

Beale Air Force Base will continue to work with local and regional law enforcement agencies to identify the cause of death, which is under investigation at this time. The joint investigation is being conducted by Air Force Office of Special Investigations and California Highway Patrol, according to a press release issued by the base.